furl

UK: /ˈfɜː^rl/ US: /fɝl/ ,(fûrl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

furl /fɜrl/   v. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to (cause to) be gathered into a roll and bound securely: [no object]
   the flag furled against its staff.
   [~ + object]
   furled the sails.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

furl  (fûrl), v.t. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to gather into a compact roll and bind securely, as a sail against a spar or a flag against its staff.

v.i. 

2. Nautical, Naval Terms to become furled.
3. Nautical furl in a body, to furl (a square sail) with loose canvas gathered at the mast, so as to make a harbor furl.
4. Nautical, Naval Terms furl in the bunt, to furl (a square sail) by gathering canvas upward, so as to load the yard equally at all points.

n. 

5. Nautical, Naval Terms the act of furling.
6. Nautical, Naval Terms something furled, as a roll.

• Latin ligāre)
• Latin firmus) + lier to bind (
• compare Middle French ferler in same sense, perh. representing Old French ferlier to chain, fasten, equivalent. to fer firm (1550–60

furl′a•ble, adj. 
furl′er, n. 

furl., 

1. furlough.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

furl / fɜːl/ verb

1. to roll up (an umbrella, a flag, etc) neatly and securely or (of an umbrella, flag, etc) to be rolled up in this way

noun

1. the act or an instance of furling
2. a single rolled-up section

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French ferlier to bind tightly, from ferm tight (from Latin firmus firm¹) + lier to tie, bind, from Latin ligāre

ˈfurlable adjective